SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: Bucs have to carry on without Willingham

Thursday

Nov 6, 2008 at 12:01 AM

The Shelton State men’s basketball team won’t be at full strength for its home opener.Jarodiaus Willingham, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, tore the Achilles tendon in his left foot in the second game of the season. Shelton State lost to Northeast Mississippi (109-100) on Friday and to Itawamba (80-73) on Saturday in the Itawamba Tip-Off Tournament in Fulton, Miss.Shelton State plays at home against Itawamba at 7:30 tonight.Shelton State head coach Barry Mohun said Willingham, a transfer from Wallace State of Hanceville, will be out the rest of the season after undergoing surgery in Birmingham on Tuesday.“Everything went well,” Mohun said. “He has to go through the recovery time now.”Mohun said he plans to file a request with the NJCAA to grant Willingham a redshirt year based on medical hardship.“Looking at the film, you couldn’t tell anything he did that caused it,” Mohun said. “We’ll have to move some people around. Even though it’s a setback for Jarodiaus, it gives someone else an opportunity to fill his shoes and fill that role. I think we have several people who can do it. The key thing is they’ve never done it experience-wise.“He was one of those guys who could defend inside and outside. He was quick enough to guard people on the perimeter. He brought a positive energy level to our team.”Courtney Carr, a 6-7 freshman, is a candidate to fill in at forward.“Courtney has a little more size,” Mohun said. “Paul McGill is strong and athletic too. Marvin Johnson is thin, but he plays hard defensively and can help us in the press.”McGill is a 6-4 freshman guard from Tuscaloosa’s American Christian Academy. Johnson is a 6-5 freshman forward from New Orleans.Carr had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Northeast Mississippi. Brandon Williams, a sophomore guard, led the Buccaneers with 26 points. Williams had 10 points against Itawamba.Sophomore guard Trevell Coleman had 13 points against Northeast Mississippi, and freshman guard Sterling Jones had 10. Sophomore guard Charles Perona had six points and a team-high six assists.“I was a little disappointed at times with our defensive execution,” Mohun said. “The positive for us is we have things we can work on. It wasn’t a lack of talent. They just have to get more reps and show improvement in certain areas.“We looked fine at times, and then at other times I could see some weaknesses out there. I’m excited about the chance of showing improvement. “Our philosophy is the next game is always a big game. You’re playing a team that beat you the last time out. It’s a chance to redeem yourself.”UWA’s Pedrosa receives GSC awardAfter being recognized for her defensive effort, West Alabama volleyball player Ana Gabriela Pedrosa seemed intent on earning more honors.She recorded 14 kills and three block assists in Tuesday’s victory over Martin Methodist College. West Alabama (21-10) closed out its home schedule by winning the match 25-13, 25-16, 25-9.Pedrosa, a junior outside hitter from Brazil, was named the Gulf South Conference Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. Earlier in the season she was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Week.“She’s one of those special players who gets it done all the time, night in and night out,” said Nathan Baker, UWA’s first-year head coach. You can always count on her to play hard and play aggressive. She’s a complete player.”Seniors Allison Nail, Teresa Clements and Jacquie Swan played their final regular-season match in Pruitt Hall and helped UWA achieve a 15-5 record against non-conference opponents.Nail, an outside hitter, had nine kills and eight digs. Swan, a defensive specialist, posted 10 digs. Clements, an outside hitter, had six kills and a team-high four blocks.“It’s always good to finish your home schedule with a win, especially for our three seniors,” Baker said. “They’ve definitely been the cornerstone of our program here at West Alabama. They’ve been here all four years and helped turn this program around.”West Alabama closes out the regular season on Friday with a match at West Georgia. UWA has already qualified for the GSC Tournament as the No. 3 seed. The tournament is scheduled for Nov. 14-15. Baker said the winner of Saturday’s North Alabama-West Florida match will host the tournament.“I’ve learned in my first year how tough the Gulf South Conference really is,” Baker said. “It’s one of the best conferences for volleyball in America. Week in and week out any team can win here. We put ourselves in position to go into the GSC Tournament. We want to win some games and make some noise and come out of that thing a winner.”The GSC Tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Other teams will make the field through at-large bids.“I think that for us to go we’re going to have to win the conference tournament,” Baker said. “Anybody can have a good weekend and come out of that thing a winner.”Matthews chosen as Player of the Week Even though the West Alabama football team lost on Saturday, linebacker DeAntuan Matthews was chosen as the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.Matthews, a 5-foot-7, 228-pound junior from Birmingham, had 16 total tackles in a 45-43 triple overtime loss to Ouachita Baptist.Matthews finished with 13 solo tackles, 3 tackles for losses and two sacks for minus 14 yards. He broke up a pass and forced a fumble.“He’s not real big, but he’s a hard hitter,” said UWA head coach Bobby Wallace. “He’s the kind of player who’s got a great nose for the football. He’s a very smart football player and a hard worker. He’s got a lot of intangibles about him.“He’s been here for four years now but hasn’t played a lot up until this year. I’m real pleased for him.”Matthews is the fourth UWA defensve player to be honored this season by the GSC. Other selections were linebacker Garry Pack, safety Octavious Sumbry and end Jeremy May.West Alabama winds up its regular season at home, facing North Alabama at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Andrew Carroll’s small college notebook appears every Wednesday. He can be reached at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223.